The King raised a glass to his grandson during coronation festivities. Photo / AP
The King raised a glass to his grandson during coronation festivities. Photo / AP
It might have been King Charles’ big weekend but he didn’t forget about his grandson amid the chaos of the coronation.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source revealed the King - whose coronation fell on the same day as Archie’s fourth birthday, toasted his grandson “wherever hewas” at a private family gathering after his coronation.
The newly crowned monarch, 74, has barely seen his grandson - Prince Harry’s eldest child - since he was born and is said to have used a celebration at Buckingham Palace on Saturday following his official crowing to pay tribute to the youngster.
A source told Mail Online that even though most members of the royal family had “breathed a sigh of relief” Harry, 38, was not at the party, Charles appeared “genuinely quite disappointed” at his absence, with his son leaving the UK after the coronation in Westminster Abbey, London, to jet back to LA to mark Archie’s fourth birthday.
The insider added Charles made a point of toasting “those that weren’t there” and wished Archie a very happy birthday “wherever he was”.
They said: “It was apparently a very sweet moment.”
Harry sat three rows back at his dad’s coronation amid reports of his rift with the royal family including his older brother Prince William, 40, following the publication of his memoir Spare in January.
Mail Online said it was understood an invitation had been “politely extended” to Harry to join the family lunch at the Palace but he decided to return to California to celebrate Archie’s birthday.
His wife, Meghan, 41, had stayed behind with their son and 22-month-old daughter Lilibet at the time of the coronation.
Prince Harry left the coronation to rush back to California. Photo / Getty Images
The Palace luncheon is also said to have seen William stand and congratulated his father on the occasion.
It is thought that as well as the King, Queen and members of the royal family, others present included Camilla’s close family – her sister Annabel and her best friend Lady Landsdowne, both of whom served as her attendants on the day, as well as her children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, and grandchildren Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis and Gus.
The Princess of Wales’ family were also invited, with her parents Michael and Carole Middleton and siblings Pippa and James present.
Harry arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at around 7.30pm local time – 3.30am in the UK – after spending just 28 hours in the UK for his father’s crowning.
